HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 24, 21 September 1912, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. The IVaihi Prisoners. Air. Payne asked the Minister of Justice if he would take stops to release the men, imprisoned in connection with the Waila strike. If they were not dealt with reasonably, lie said, a great deal of trouble would ensue. The men had not_ assaulted anyone, and had done nothing uuieasonabla. He believed that if the men wore released there would bo no further trouble. Air. Hordman said that ho did not propose to recommend to the Government that it should interfere with the proper administration of justice. (Hear, hear.) The men, to whom Mr. Payne had referred had been found guilty of a breach of the law. They had been ordered by the Court to hud sureties tb keep the peace, and il they took the necessary steps to find sureties they would, ho understood, he immediately released. Land and surveys. The House went into committee further consideration or tup Estimates. Band and Surveys £304,9v4. —Air. Ell contended that land along Ukmain lines of railway should ho held o\ the Crown and revenue therefrom use,., for old-age pensions and other purposes. Air. Forbes urged tho desirability oi holding a conference of land hoards, with a view to bringing about un.iornucy of administration. Ho suggested that applicants lor land under me ballot system should bo examined as to their financial position and fitness. Air. Russell pleaded for faying off ol town lands as endowments lor the benefit of tho corning generations. Ik hold that the financial element should not ’ enter into the question of who should have land. In too many instances the sons of wealthy men pro vailed in the ballots. If a man v.ert prepared to, work, and with the assistance of his brothers and sisters, Jitshould be allowed to do so. Mr. Witty contended that there wat an urgent necessity for more surveyor!, and more land valuers. The settlement of land should, ho said, bo pushed or more vigorously than at present. Mr. Milford hoped that the cutting up of town areas would be on the freehold tenure.. He moved a reduction of the vote for the Under-Secretary’s salary by £l, as an indication that the optional tenure was tho only tenure for this country, excepting for endowment lands.

The motion was negatived without division. The Prime Minister, replying to the debate, said that his information was that people would not go in for township sections, on lease in the first instance. He intended to convene a conference of Crown Lands Commissioners every year, and to bo present at that conference. He thought such conferences would bring about valuable results. There was, he went on to say, a scarcity of good surveyors, but the Government hoped to be able to secure the services of additional men this year,, and the sum of £6001) would be placed on the Estimates for that purpose. He was also taking steps to see that the land was rcaded before being opened for settlement. It was proposed to make the Crown Lands Ranger an Inspector of Noxious Weeds, and so far as possible to prevent overlapping. Preference at the ballot to''married men with families and mou who had been successful at previous ballots would be provided in the Land Bill to be brought down this session. , The House adjourned at 5.30 and ie sumed at 7.30. The Estimates were further considered. Mr. F. H. Smith moved an an eudment to the motion that as an indication that the settlors should rot be called upon to pay more rent than they could possibly, afford the ; mount of the salary of the Under-Secretary for Lands should he reduced by £!. Mr. Massey said that provision would bo made in the Land Bill to b-; introduced for the granting of remission of rents to anyone in difficulty, on the understanding that anyone who sold at a profit would reimburse the State after such a sale. Mr. Davoy said nt was an extraordinary thing that an incoming tenant should pay a price for his land and then ask for a remission of his rent,. The Prime Minister mentioned, as an instance, that a remission f it-uts of the Kiotieke settlers would amount to £8770. Eventually the amendment was defeated by 37 votes to 17. Valuation Department.

Tho next vote discussed was that of the Valuation Department, £32,059. Mr. Pearce complained that many of the valuers had a very crude idea of what constituted improvements. He did not think they could get properly qualified men at a £IOO to £l5O a year. The Prime Minister said that £l5O was merely a retaining foe. His information was that the work of valuation was right up to date at tho present moment. The vote was agreed to. The Agricultural Vote. The next class taken was the Department of Agriculture, total vote £1(33,079. _ Mr. Witty thought the Government 'should make its intentions clear with regard to experimental farms. They wanted farms to which their boys could go and receive successful education. Lincoln College was degenerating into a class institution, the debate, said that tho photographer was chiefly concerned in work for tho Agricultural Journal. After tho session ho was going to inspect the various sites for an experimental farm in Canterbury. There would be no opportunity of potting the Pure Seeds Bill through tin’s session. .Ho would endeavour to get siic.lt a Bill through next session. The rabbit difficulty would bo most easily got over by oncon raging settlement. Tho total vote was passed unamended. State Goa! Mines, The next vote taken was State Coal Mines, £214,331. Questions. Tn reply to ouestions, tho Minister said that ho intended presenting to Parliament shortly a report upon the history of the State mines and their prospects. There was no prospect of tho Seddonville mine lasting more

than a couple of year-, unless some quite unexpected developments occurred. At present, owing to the demand for *ofc coal it was paying. As 10 the No. 1 Point Elizabeth Aline, there was not much hope of it lasting more than a year. However, there was u , very large quantity of coal at the Port Elizabeth No. 2 Mine. _ The manager estimated it at 132 million cons, "of which -17 millions were available.’ The mine would reach the output stage at the end of this year, and could produce 300,000 tons per annum for 99 years at least. Tno vote passed. Other Votes.

The Public Trustee Account and Scenery Preservation Account were passed without discussion. The Lands Settlement Account also went through with little discussion. After midnight tho House passed the Government insurance vote of .C 05,420 without amendment. The Accident Insurance Vote and the State Eire Insurance Vote also passed. The House rose at 12.30.